Stella on Norris and Piastri: "It's like when you have two sons!"
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has addressed claims that the Woking-based team favour one driver over the other in the latest F1 Beyond The Grid podcast.
When you are in my role, it's like when you have two sons! And somebody says 'Which one is your preferred son?' Yes but they are my two sons! How can you say which one is the preferred one?- Andrea Stella on the F1 Beyond the Grid Podcast
This season, McLaren have come under scrutiny by fans and even ex-F1 racing drivers for some of their decisions both on and off track. Most of this links to the accusations that McLaren are favouring one driver over the other.
Incidents like the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza are often brought up in discussion, where Lando Norris had a slow pit stop which led to team-mate Oscar Piastri coming out ahead of the Brit. McLaren then ordered that the drivers switch places before the end of the race, which the drivers did adhere to. However, there was a large amount of backlash from fans, media and drivers alike.
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Stella said: "Sometimes when I hear or read some comments of this kind, I find them really very superficial. I think that sometimes people don't really understand what it means to have two drivers that are with you together in this journey."
Norris now leads the Drivers' Championship by just a single point ahead of Piastri. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has closed the gap rapidly after being over 100 points down around the summer break, but the Dutchman is now just over 30 points adrift in the title fight. Both Stella and Zak Brown have addressed the genuine threat of Verstappen in the final four races.
Stella on Norris and Piastri's McLaren journey so far
Stella continued: "It's been a fantastic journey together with Lando. I remember very well his first test in Hungary. His development has been continued, he's become a very strong driver in the race. In addition to all the results Lando has brought to McLaren, he has been a fundamental part of the leadership."
Norris joined McLaren back in 2019 as a rookie and has made steady progress with the team, competing for victories in 2021 and then mounting a championship charge on Verstappen in 2024, before now leading the championship in 2025.
Stella added: "We did not have much to offer, and yet he committed to McLaren. He trusted that we would turn the place around. This sent a strong message to everyone, to the entire team. A message of belief. Likewise, it's the same sort of message Oscar offered when he said 'I am committed to McLaren' when in fact, we didn't have much to offer, again in 2023."
Both Norris and Piastri are set to battle one another again this weekend for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
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